Opioids are a leading cause of injury related deaths in our state. 1

75 percent of opioid misuse starts with people using medication that was not prescribed for them – usually obtained from a friend or family member. 2

PROTECT YOUR KIDS, FAMILIES, AND ENVIRONMENT

Lock up your medications and safely dispose of unused medications at a safe disposal location.

WHY STORE, SAFEGUARD AND DISPOSE OF PRESCRIPTION MEDICINE?

Safeguarding prescription medicine properly is easy once you know what to do, and it is important for the health and safety of your family and others who come into your home.

The medicine may get into the wrong hands if a family member or visitor takes it without your knowledge. They may use it incorrectly to try to treat a medical condition - or worse, they may abuse it. Children or pets may be accidentally poisoned by ingesting easily accessible medicine.

LOCK UP YOUR MEDICATIONS.

DISPOSE OF UNUSED PILLS SAFELY.

TALK WITH YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT OTHER WAYS TO MANAGE PAIN.

ASK YOUR PHARMACIST TOFILL PRESCRIPTIONS PARTIALLY.

SAFE DISPOSAL TO REDUCE DRUG ABUSE

Prescription drug abuse is a growing problem. The abuse of medicines by teens often results in medical emergencies or fatal overdoses. Most people who take medicine improperly, including teens, do not get it from a drug dealer. They get it from a friend or relative, often, without their knowledge. Safely disposing of medicine gets potentially dangerous leftover drugs out of our homes.

SAFE MEDICINE STORAGE TIPS

Lock up medicine that is at risk of being abused in a cabinet, drawer, or medicine safe.

Store medicine in its original container - the label on the bottle provides important information about the medicine.

Keep an updated list of all prescription medicine in your home. Take an inventory at least twice a year - when clocks ‘spring’ forward in the spring and ‘fall’ back in autumn, for example.

Talk to a pharmacist about how to properly dispose of unused or expired medicine.

1 Source: Washington State Department of Health

The One Tribal opioid campaign is designed to inform and educate Tribal communities about the dangers of prescription drug misuse and the importance of safe storage, use and disposal.